Yeonnam Restaurants

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• Jyotireseutorang

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• Raoppiyak

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• Richimondeugwajajeom Seongsanbonjeom

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• Maehyang

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• Mangwondongkaljjamppong

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• Jinmisikdang

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• Sandongmandu

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• Mibundang Hapjeongjeom

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A quieter, trendier alternative to Hongdae along the Gyeongui Line Forest Park, lined with independent cafes, brunch spots, and eclectic restaurants.

Vibe

Trendy, laid-back alleys

Who goes

20s–30s, couples, cafe-hoppers

Best time

Weekend daytime & brunch

Known for

Brunch, indie cafes, forest trail

A district built along a former railway

Yeonnam-dong grew along the linear park created when the Gyeongui rail line was moved underground. Restaurants and cafes line both sides of a long strip of lawn, which makes wandering until something appeals a perfectly good strategy here.

The side streets were residential, so the buildings are small. Many places seat only a handful of people, and the popular ones develop queues.

What the neighborhood does well

Chinese and Southeast Asian food are unusually strong here. Long-established Chinese restaurants remain from the nearby ethnic Chinese community, and Thai and Vietnamese kitchens have opened alongside them.

Cafes and bakeries are equally dense. Moving from a meal to coffee takes a couple of minutes on foot, which makes it easy to spend half a day in the area without planning much.

Practical notes

The park begins at Exit 3 of Hongik University Station. Walking its full length to the far end of Yeonnam-dong takes about twenty minutes, so if your destination is at the top end, cut into the side streets partway.

On weekend afternoons the lawn fills with picnickers and the strip gets busy. For a quieter meal, come on a weekday or in the evening.